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Finding a Tech-Friendly Novel Editor?
Brian J. asks: "I've recently completed a manuscript for a novel that depicts a heist involving elements of the Information Technology industry. Basically, a quartet of laid-off technology workers think they're going to get revenge against their former employer, but it doesn't work out that way. I was wondering if Slashdot knew of author's agents or editorial staff at publishers who have an affinity for technology, especially technology fiction, to whom I could send a query letter."
I think the best way would be to find out who edited your favorite techno thrillers, and send targeted packages to them. Some of the authors may thank the editors in the acknowledgements, and you could try emailing some of the other authors (don't ask the authors to read your manuscript though, they probably don't have time). Same goes for agents.
:)
Depending on how much you already know, try reading Getting Your Book Published for Dummies or Cory Doctorow's book The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Science-Fiction (even though you aren't writing strictly sci fi, the general principles are the same). Most of the "serious" writing books I read weren't as good as either of those two, but hey, I'm either a dummy or an idiot when it comes to writing I guess
I actually thought you were looking for novel writing software - I'd be interested in that topic as well, I've tried out a few, but they don't seem to fit my needs as well as two open text editors (one for notes, one for writing).
Tips and Tricks for Mozilla
An agent can be tremendously useful in steering a manuscript to people who will be able to evaluate it well. A good agent will have a lot of knowledge you won't find on slashdot about getting the MS to the right readers.
You sure as hell wouldn't want CmdrTaco to act as a proof-reader...
Just stay out of the slushpile. Which means including the name of *someone* in your cover letter. Work your six degrees. To get the work read, no matter how fine a work it may be, it's pretty much a necessity these days to have a referral. That's why people go to writer's conferences. Contacts contacts contacts.
Kind of sickening, but forget that part, just do it.
And, good luck!
If your work is well written, it'll stand on its own. If it depends heavily on the technology to make it work, then it'll only appeal to techies, which is such a small market (even smaller than science fiction or fantasy), that it likely won't interest any publisher.
If you've worked well within the craft of writing, you'll have a good story and compelling characters and anyone, tech friendly or not, will be interested. If, on the other hand, you've written a story about a lot of cool techno tricks to amaze the reader, they you're basing the story on a gimmick, and it won't be of interest to anyone.
For example, in it's time, Run Silent, Run Deep involved a lot of high tech stuff (it's not high tech anymore, but it was as advanced in its day as movies like Sneakers were). It wasn't the technical details that made the book sell (although they helped a lot with the setting). It was the simple conflict set up between a good submarine captain and a very clever former sub captain who was taking out almost every sub the Allies had in one area. It's true, the tech stuff helped, but it was only added color to help the setting.
If you don't have a good solid story and good characters, and the book depends on the tech stuff and therefore depends on a tech friendly editor, you haven't written a story -- you've written a self-indulgent fantasy.
I truly hope the case is the former, and not the latter. If so, anything you do that gets you out of the slush pile and onto someone's desk -- anyone's desk -- is all you really need.
Not to be mean, but I'm having difficulty believing you spent the *vast* amount of time required to write a book, and did not find time to squeeze in a little research.
Usually, you can get the process going with just a few sample chapters. It is not a short process, and you're going to be doing lots of waiting now. Maybe start writing your next book, and this time get a publisher on board before the book is done.
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